Jacques perl



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- JACQUES PERL, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

PROCESS OF'PRODUC ING PLATINUM GAS-LIGHTING PELLETS.

$PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No; 615,363, dated December6, 1898. Application filed July 14, 1898. Serial No. 685,970. (Nospecimens.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACQUES PERL, a subject of the King of Prussia,German Emperor, and a resident of Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia,

German Empire, have invented an Improved- Process for the Production ofContinuo us and Durable Platinum Gas-Lighting Pellets forIlluminating-Gas, (for which application for patent has been filed inGermany January 19, 1898,) of which the followingis an exactspecification.

This invention relates to an improved process for the production ofcontinuous and durable platinum gas-lighting pellets for igniting gas,and has for its object to produce a self-acting gas-igniting pelletwhich more especially shall be impervious to the action of theatmosphere.

Lighting or igniting pellets which glow in an illuminating-gas streamare already well known. To make the same practically serviceable,however, for the automatic lighting of gas-flames, the said pellets mustbe so prepared or must possess the qualities, first, that they quicklycommence to glow, and, secondly, that they glow as frequently as desiredupon the passage of the illuminatinggas stream to be ignited across thesaid pellet, and thus duly effect the ignition of the said gas-stream.After the discovery was made that finely-divided platinum did not fulfilthese requirements it was experimented to increase the effect of thefinely-divided platinum by inserting the same (or mingling the same)within different porous bodies, according to the suggestion of Liebig.(Pogg. Amt, vol. 17, 1829, page 107.) Dobereiner (Jom-n. Pmktc'scherOhemie, 1839, vol. 17, page 158) went further in this matter andproduced the finely-divided platinum Within the pores of natural orartificial meerschaum (seafoam) or clay. I-Iereby the action of theigniting-pellets was, it is true, increased; but, neverthelsss, theproblem of causing the pellet to glow quickly and as often as wasrequired in the illuminating-gas stream was even yet not fulfilled bythis igniting-pellet prepared, as hereinbefore described, according toLiebig. It was found that the effect or action of this pellet decreasedin propor-v tion to the number of times the pellet was used, and thatespecially in a damp atmosphere or after a short time of use theigniting action of this pellet entirely ceased. The

reason why these and other igniting-pellets consisting of anincombustible material with platinum finely divided in its pores ceasedto be of use I have found in the fact that the said igniting-pellets, inconsequence of their peculiar method of manufacture, always containedchlorid of magnesium or other earths, because by the reduction of theplatinum salts which are in the pores of the employed material a part ofthe latter is always transformed by the action of the acids freed fromthe platinum salts (chiefly hydrochloricacid) to hygroscopic compounds.These compounds are injurious on account of their hygroscopicproperties. They cause the igniting-pellet to absorb moisture, inconsequence of which when the, pellet is traversed by a flow of gas theheat generated in the pellet has, first, to

evaporate the water or moisture absorbed by and now contained in thepellet before the pellet commences to glow. Hereby the promptness andspeed of the ignition are destroyed. Furthermore, these said compoundsact as fluxes and cause the igniting-pellet to become denser and moreimpenetrable for the gas the longer the same is in use, so that, asindicated, the said igniting-pellet after a certain number of ignitions,and usually after a very small number of such ignitions, ceases to befurther capable of igniting the gas.

The recognition of the above facts led to my improved processhereinafter described.

Porous incombustible material is thoroughly mixed or mingled with asolid or dis solved platinum salt or salts. The mixture is dried at amoderate temperature, and hereupon the platinum is reduced in the poresof the incombustible material according to known methods. This can, asknown, be effected by bringing the mixture to a high degree of heat in acovered crucible until the hydrochloric acid or the vapors of any otheracid have disappeared. The same result might also be brought about byheating the mixture or mass in a reducing gas-flame. A pellet resultsherefrom containing hygroscopic salts. The salts are now extracted withdiluted hydrochloric acid and subsequently with Water until all trace ofany soluble salt is removed. Instead of acid I can employ boiling wateralone.

For the above-mentioned extraction of the salts hydrochloric acid couldbe substituted by any other acid which would dissolve the formedoxychlorid of magnesium, &c., more quickly than water.

In conclusion it will also be clear that I can according to my improvedprocess renew or reprepare gas-igniting pellets which in consequence ofpossessing hygroscopic qualities, or which in consequence of slagginghaving taken place, have become unfit for use or spoiled. These pellets,which may have been manufactured according to a process hitherto known,I treat according to my improved process by subjecting the same to theaction of suitable'solvents, such as hydrochloric acid and water, in themanner hereinbefore described. The said pellets again become fit for useand serviceable in every respect for the purpose required.

Having thus fully described the nature of this invention, what Idesireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States is- 1. A newprocess for the production of gasigniting pellets, said processconsisting, in reducing the platinum salt Within the pores of anincombustible material by known means, and subsequently extracting thetherebyformed hygroscopic compounds from the pellet by means of asolvent, as set forth.

2. A new process for the production of gasigniting pellets, said processconsisting, in reducing the platinum salt within the pores of aninoombustible material by known means, subsequently extracting thethereby-formed hygroscopic compounds from the pellet by means of anacid, and subsequently removing the acid retained in the pellet byWashing, as set forth. 1

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

JACQUES PERL.

Vitnesses:

C. H. DAY, FRITZ SPERLING.

